Needle holder



y 1943- .1. G. RUSSELL 2,319,829

NEEELE HOLDER Filed Sept. 18, 1940 INVENTOR JZ/L/A/V & Russia ATTORNEY Patented May 25, 1943 NEEDLE HOLDER Julian Guy Russell, North Chattanooga, Tenn, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of'Illinois Application September 18, 1940, Serial No. 357,270

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a needle holder for singleor multiple-needle sewing machines and is particularly adapted for use with a multiple needle tufting machine, as illustrated in the Gladish Patent 1,800,522, April 14, 1931.

In the tufting of bedspreads, rugs, bath mats, lid and stool covers and other articles, with a multiple needle tufting machine, it is often desirable to discontinue the stitching with one or more of the needles, while continuing it with other needles. For example, where the groundwork or background of a design is made up of a plain color and the design itself of various colors, it is sometimes desirable to discontinue the stitching with one or more of the needles in order to fit the background neatly into the design.

It is an object of the present invention to pro- ,vide animproved needle holder by means of which any one or more of the needles may be readily moved into and out of the normal operating position. Other objects will become apparent.

In describing the invention, reference will be made to the drawing illustrating an embodiment of it. In the drawing,

Figure l is a front elevation of a needle bar and holder embodying the invention, the elevated position of one of the needles being indicated in dot and dash lines.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1, certain parts being shown in elevation, and showing one of the needles in the elevated position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fractional view of a portion of the needle holder with parts broken away to show the interior construction.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figures S and 7 are figures similar to Figures 4 and 5 showing the needle in the elevated position.

The needle bar and needle holder illustrated in the drawings correspond to the needle bar and needle holder indicated by the numerals l4,

l5, I6 and ll of the above mentioned Gladish Patent 1,800,522 (see Figure 1 of that patent).

of a set screw 5. The guide rod 4 slides in guides tened to the collar 3.

6, 6 integral with the outer end of the sewing machine frame head 1. A hollow sleeve or shell 8 is fixed to the lower end of the guide rod 4, for example, by having the rod 4 threaded into a hollow boss 9 fixed to the sleeve 8. This sleeve 8 is braced to hold it rigidly in line by means of the rods or braces l0, l0 fixed to it and to a frame plate I! welded or otherwise rigidly fas- Obviously, other means may be provided for retaining these parts or for forming this rigid frame.

The sleeve 8 is provided with a plurality of slots l2, each of which is adapted to receive a needle l3. Within the sleeve 8 there are positioned a plurality of stud shafts or needle holders 14, each of which fits snugly within the sleeve and is provided with a hole extending through it and adapted to receive a needle l3. Set screws l5, each having a squared or hexagonal inset head adapted to receive a socket wrench, may be tightened to hold the needles l3 in the needle holder it. These screws are of such length as not to interfere with the rotation of the needle enlarged, as at lZa, opposite the set screws l5,

,to permit access of the socket Wrench to the set screws [5 and to permit removal of the set screws. The sleeve 8.may be provided with knockout holes l6 opposite each of the slots l2 to permit the driving out of shanks of broken needles.

Each of the needle holders M is provided with a groove ll extending part or all of the way around the periphery of the needle holder. A plurality of bosses 18 are provided along the sleeve 8, each opposite one of the grooves l! in the needle holders M. In each of these bosses there is positioned a ball l9 adapted to roll" in the groove I! in the corresponding needle holder. These balls are pressed toward the needle holder's by means of the compression springs 20," the pressure being regulated by the cap screws 2|. A pair of indentations, 22 and 23, is provided in each of the grooves ll. One of these indentations (22) is positioned to receive the ball [9 when the needle is extending downwardly in its regular sewing position (Figures e and 5) and the other (23) is positioned to receive the ball 19 when the needle is in its inoperative or elevated position (Figures 6 and 7) As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the slot 12 terminates at its lower end so as to serve as a stop for the needle in its lowered or vertical position. Also, the indentation 22 is so positioned that the ball presses against the edge of the indentation tending to rotate the needle holder toward this stop and thereby to hold the needle firmly in the vertical position. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the other end of the slot l2 serves as a stop for the needle in its elevated position and the indentation 23 is positioned so that the ball [9 tends to rotate the needle holder M to press the needle against this stop. The pressures of the springs 2!! can be adjusted to give the desired resistance to movement of the needle by means of the cap screws 2 I.

In assembling the needles in the needle holder, the inner needle holders [4 may be introduced into the sleeve 8 and positioned so that the needles may beintroduced into the holes in the needle holders and clamped there by means of the cap screws 15. If desired, slots may be provided in the ends of the needle holders to receive a .screw driver to aid .in positioning the needle holders. The halls and springs are then introduced into the bosses l8 and the desired pressure applied by the cap screws 2 I. The outer needles may then befixed in their needle holders in a similar manner.

In the operation of the sewing machine with the improved needle holder, the threads 24 "for the several needles are led through the individual guides 25, which may be provided in the plate II or a plate fixed to it, and through the eyes of the needles, as illustrated for one needle in Figure 2. The desired number of needles may be turned to the lower vertical position and the tufting may be proceeded with as usual. When it is desired to-put one or more of the needles out of the operative position, the machine may be stopped and the needle swung upwardly as indicated in Figure 2, against the resistance of the spring 20 bearing upon the ball l9. When the needle reaches its raised or inoperative position, the ball [9 will be in the depression 23, as illustrated in Figure 6, and will retain the needle in this position until sufficientpressure is applied to swing it downward into the operative position. The slack -"in the thread 24 when the needle is raised will prevent the pulling of thread from the spool when the machine is started and the needles reciprocate. When it is desired to put the needle back into the operative position, the machine may be stopped and the needle swung down into the lowered position, whereupon the stitching may be continued.

Thus, if a machine equipped with this device with tour needles is used in sewing the ground work of a spread, rug, etc., and the operator comes to asection where the design appears, one

needle can be thrown up and the sewing continued with three; then, if desired, another needle .may be thrown up and the sewing continued, and,if necessary, another may be thrown into the inoperative position. As the design is passed the needles may be fed back into position and the sewing of the ground work continued.

Themachine is particularly useful in the making of bedspreads where rows of tufting run at right angles at the corners of the spread. As the corners are approached, the inner needles may be gradually raised in order to make the lines-of tufts continuous at-the corners.

I-trisobvious that many variations and modifications may *be made in :utilizing the invention. l hel'n'umbers of needles maybe varied from one to any suitable number. Also, the spacing of the needles may be varied. If desired, the slots l2 may be extended at their upper ends so that the needles may be moved into a vertical, inoperative position. It is preferred that this inoperative position be at least 60 degrees from the horizontal.

The detailed construction illustrated and described is, of course, merely illustrative and the essential novel features of the device may he used with many other constructions or with many other types of sewing or tufting machines where it is desired to put one or more of the needles into inoperative position while continuing with the others. For example, it may also be used with other multiple needle sewing machines, or even with a single needle sewing machine, if desired.

The terms used in describing the invention have been used in their descriptive sense and not as terms of limitation and it is intended that all equivalents of the terms used be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A needle holder comprising a cylindrical shell having an aperture therein to receive a needle and in which the needle may move from an operative to an inoperative position, a member rotatably supported in the shell and having an aperture therein to receive and hold said needle, and resilient means for holding said rotatable member to retain said needle in its operative and inoperative positions.

2. A needle holder comprising a cylindrical shell having a slot therein to receive the shank of a needle and in which the said shank may move as the needle moves from an operative to an ,inoperative position, a cylindrical member, rotatable within said shell, having a hole to receive and hold the shank of the needle, a ball resiliently forced toward said member, and indentations in 'the surface of said member positioned to receive said ball when the member is turned so that the needle is in its operative andinoperative positions.

3. A needle holder comprising a cylindrical shell having a 'slot therein to receive the'shank of a needle and in which the said shank may move as the needle moves from an operative to an inoperative position, a cylindrical member, rotatable within said shell, having a hole to receive and hold the shank of theneedle, aball resiliently forced toward said member, indentations in the surface of said member positioned to receive said ball when the member is turned so that the needle is in its operative and inoperative positions, and a groove connecting said indentations in which said ball rolls upon rotation of themember.

4. A needle holder as defined in claim 2 in which an end of the slot forms a stop for the needle in the operative position and the indentation for the ball in that position is so positioned that the ball bears against the side of the indentation that will force the needle toward the stop.

5. A needle holder as defined in claim 2 in which the ends of the 'slot serve as stops for the needle in the operative and inoperative positions and the indentations are so positioned that in each position the ball bears against the side of the indentation that will force the needle toward the stop for that position of the needle.

6. A needle holder comprising a cylindrical shell having its axis at right angles to the needle in its operative position and having a slot therein in a plane parallel to the needle in operative position to receive the shank of the needle and in which it may move from the operative position to the inoperative position of the needle, a cylindrical member rotatable within said shell and having an aperture opposite said slot to receive and hold said needle, a ball resiliently pressed against said member, and indentations in said member to receive said ball when the member is turned to place the needle in its operative and its inoperative positions.

7. A needle holder comprising a cylindrical shell having its axis at right angles to the needle in its operative position and having a slot therein in a plane parallel to the needle in operative position to receive the shank of the needle and in which it may move from the operative position to the inoperative position of the needle, a cylindrical member rotatable within said shell and having an aperture opposite said slot to receive and hold. said needle, a ball resiliently pressed against said member, indentations in said member to receive said ball when the member is turned to place the needle in its operative and its inoperative positions, and a groove connecting said indentations in which said ball IOlls as the needle is moved from one position to another.

8. A needle holder comprising a cylindrical shell actuated by the needle bar of a sewing machine and extending in a plane at right angles to the path of travel of the said needle bar, said shell having a plurality of slots in planes parallel to said needle bar, a plurality of cylindrical members rotatable within said shell, each having a hole opposite one of said slots to receive a needle shank, and resilient means for retaining said shell actuated by the needle bar of a sewing machine and extending in a plane at right angles to the path of travel of the said needle bar, said shell having a plurality of slots in planes parallel to said needle bar, a plurality of cylindrical members rotatable within said shell, each having a hole opposite one of said slots to receive a needle shank, a plurality of balls, each resiliently forced toward one of said cylindrical members, and a pair of indentations on each of said cylindrical members, said indentations being positioned to receive one of said balls when the cylindrical member is turned to put the needle in its operative and inoperative positions.

10. A needle holder comprising a cylindrical shell actuated by the needle bar of a sewing machine and extending in a plane at right angles to the path of travel of the said needle bar, said shell having a plurality of slots in planes parallel to said needle bar, a plurality of spaced cylindrical members rotatable within said shell, each having a hole opposite one of said slots to receive a needle shank, a plurality of balls, each resiliently forced toward one of said cylindrical members, a pair of indentations in each of said cylindrical members, said indentations being positioned to receive one of said balls when the cylindrical member is turned to put the needle in its operative and inoperative positions, and a groove connecting the indentations on each of the members, said groove serving as a track for the ball in rolling from one indentation to the other.

JULIAN GUY RUSSELL. 

